On 6 November 2019, State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) issued the Available Excipients for Heath Food Filing and Their Usage Rules (2019) (referred to 2019 Excipients Directory), and it will be officially implemented on 1 December 2019. CIRS made a comparative analysis between the 2019 Excipients Directory and Available Excipients for Heath Food Filing and Their Usage Rules (2017) (referred to 2017 Excipients Directory) from multiple aspects, including the list of available excipients, related standards for excipients, version of related standards for excipients, etc.
1. 17 new available excipients
Compared with the 2017 Excipients Directory, the available excipients in the 2019 Excipients Directory have increased from 179 to 196, including phospholipid, curcumin, octyl and decyl glycerate, fruit and vegetable powder, etc.
The 17 new excipients are as follows:
S.N. |
Excipient name |
Related standards |
Maximum dosage |
|
Solid preparation |
Liquid preparation |
|||
1 |
Menthol |
GB 1886.199 Natural Menthol; The current Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China (referred to Chinese Pharmacopoeia) - Menthol |
Appropriate level as required for flavoring |
|
2 |
Galacto-oligosaccharide |
NHC Notice of No.20, 2008; NHC Notice of No.8, 2016; NHC Notice of No.8, 2017 |
Appropriate level as required for condiment |
|
3 |
Fructooligosaccharide |
GB/T 23528 Fructooligosaccharide |
Appropriate level as required for condiment |
|
4 |
Isomaltooligosaccharide |
GB/T 20881 Isomaltooligosaccharide |
Appropriate level as required for condiment |
|
5 |
Edible sweet potato starch |
GB/T 34321 Edible sweet potato starch; GB 31637 Edible starch |
Appropriate level |
Appropriate level |
6 |
Magnesium carbonate |
GB 25587 Magnesium carbonate; The current Chinese Pharmacopoeia - Heavy Magnesium Carbonate |
It is unavailable for products supplementing Mg or products targeted for 1-3 years old; Other products: ≤0.8g per day (count as Mg). |
|
7 |
Citric acid |
The current Chinese Pharmacopoeia - Citric Acid |
Appropriate level |
Appropriate level |
8 |
Anhydrous citric acid |
The current Chinese Pharmacopoeia - Anhydrous citric acid |
Appropriate level |
Appropriate level |
9 |
Phospholipid |
GB 28401 Phospholipid |
Appropriate level as required for emulsifier, solubilizer |
|
10 |
Concentrated soybean lecithin |
LS/T 3219 Soybean lecithin |
Appropriate level as required for emulsifier, solubilizer |
|
11 |
Soybean lecithin powder |
LS/T 3219 Soybean lecithin |
Appropriate level as required for emulsifier, solubilizer |
|
12 |
Fractionated soybean lecithin |
LS/T 3219 Soybean lecithin |
Appropriate level as required for emulsifier, solubilizer |
|
13 |
Transparent soybean lecithin |
LS/T 3219 Soybean lecithin |
Appropriate level as required for emulsifier, solubilizer |
|
14 |
Soybean lecithin |
The current Chinese Pharmacopoeia |
Appropriate level as required for emulsifier, solubilizer |
|
15 |
Octyl and decyl glycerate |
GB28302 Octyl and decyl glycerate |
Appropriate level as required for emulsifier |
|
16 |
Curcumin |
GB 1886.76 Curcumin |
Appropriate level as required for coloring, ≤0.7g/kg |
|
17 |
Fruit and vegetable powder (the specific name shall be clearly defined) |
NY/T1884 Green food - Fruit and vegetable powder - fruit and vegetable powder of raw material type |
Appropriate level as required for condiment |
* CIRS interpretation: fruit and vegetable powder
1). According to the 2019 Excipients Directory, the specific name of the fruit and vegetable powder shall be clearly defined. But will the government list all available specific fruit and vegetable powder into the filing system where companies only can choose from? Or can companies fill in the names of the available fruit and vegetable powder in the system? It hasn’t been not clear yet, and the relevant authorities will give the further explanation in the near future.
2). The fruit and vegetable powder of raw material type described in NY/T1884 refer to the products that are manufactured by single fruit, vegetable or nut through screening (shelling), washing, beating, homogenization, sterilization and drying. Companies should not use the fruit and vegetable powder that does not meet the requirements or has other food additives.
2. Supplement the standard of 28 existing excipients
Compared with the 2017 Excipients Directory, related standards have been made for 28 excipients in the 2019 Excipients Directory. The specific comparisons are as follows:
S.N. |
Excipient name |
2017 Excipients Directory |
2019 Excipients Directory |
1 |
Acacia |
GB 29949 Acacia |
GB 29949 Acacia; The current Chinese Pharmacopoeia - Acacia |
2 |
β-Cyclodextrin |
GB 1886.180 β-Cyclodextrin |
GB 1886.180 β-Cyclodextrin; The current Chinese Pharmacopoeia - β-Cyclodextrin |
3 |
D-Mannitol |
GB 1886.177 D-Mannitol |
GB 1886.177 D-Mannitol; The current Chinese Pharmacopoeia - D-Mannitol |
4 |
Silicon dioxide |
GB 25576 Silicon dioxide |
GB 25576 Silicon dioxide; The current Chinese Pharmacopoeia - Silicon dioxide |
5 |
Titanium oxide |
GB 25577 Titanium oxide |
GB 25577 Titanium oxide; The current Chinese Pharmacopoeia - Titanium oxide |
6 |
Bees wax |
GB 1886.87-2015 Bees wax |
GB 1886.87-2015 bees wax; The current Chinese Pharmacopoeia - Bees wax |
7 |
Glycerol |
GB 29950 Glycerol |
GB 29950 Glycerol; The current Chinese Pharmacopoeia - Glycerol |
8 |
Talc |
GB 1886.246 Talc |
GB 1886.246 Talc; The current Chinese Pharmacopoeia - Talc |
9 |
Methyl cellulose |
GB 1886.256 Methyl cellulose |
GB 1886.256 Methyl cellulose; The current Chinese Pharmacopoeia - Methyl cellulose |
10 |
Gelatin |
GB 6783 Gelatin |
GB 6783 Gelatin; The current Chinese Pharmacopoeia – Gelatin for Capsules |
11 |
Xylitol |
GB 1886.234 Xylitol |
GB 1886.234 Xylitol; The current Chinese Pharmacopoeia - Xylitol |
12 |
Citric acid |
GB 1886.235 Citric acid |
GB 1886.235 Citric acid; GB/T 8269 Citric acid |
13 |
Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose |
GB 1886.109 Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) |
GB 1886.109 Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC); The current Chinese Pharmacopoeia - Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose |
14 |
Sucralose |
GB 25531 Sucralose |
GB 25531 Sucralose; The current Chinese Pharmacopoeia - Sucralose |
15 |
Sorbic acid and potassium sorbate (count as sorbic acid) |
GB 1886.186 Sorbic acid GB 1886.39 Potassium sorbate |
GB 1886.186 Sorbic acid; GB 1886.39 Potassium sorbate; The current Chinese Pharmacopoeia - Sorbic acid, potassium sorbate |
16 |
Sorbitol and sorbitol solution |
GB 1886.187 Sorbitol and sorbitol solution |
GB 1886.187 Sorbitol and sorbitol solution; The current Chinese Pharmacopoeia - Sorbitol |
17 |
Carboxy methyl starch sodium |
GB 29937 Carboxy methyl starch sodium |
GB 29937 Carboxy methyl starch sodium; The current Chinese Pharmacopoeia - Carboxy methyl starch sodium |
18 |
Carboxymethyl cellulose sodium |
GB 1886.232 Carboxymethyl cellulose sodium |
GB 1886.232 Carboxymethyl cellulose sodium; The current Chinese Pharmacopoeia - Carboxymethyl cellulose sodium |
19 |
Aspartame |
GB 1886.47 Aspartame |
GB 1886.47 Aspartame; The current Chinese Pharmacopoeia - Aspartame |
20 |
Microcrystalline cellulose |
GB 1886.103 Microcrystalline cellulose |
GB 1886.103 Microcrystalline cellulose; The current Chinese Pharmacopoeia - Microcrystalline cellulose |
21 |
Magnesium stearate |
GB 1886.91 Magnesium stearate |
GB 1886.91 Magnesium stearate; The current Chinese Pharmacopoeia - Magnesium stearate |
22 |
Potato starch |
GB/T 8884 Potato starch |
GB/T 8884 Potato starch; The current Chinese Pharmacopoeia - Potato starch; GB 31637 Edible starch |
23 |
Maltodextrin |
GB/T 20884 Maltodextrin |
GB/T 20884 Maltodextrin; The current Chinese Pharmacopoeia –Maltodextrin; GB 15203 starch sugar |
24 |
Cassava starch |
GB/T 29343 Cassava starch |
GB/T 29343 Cassava starch; The current Chinese Pharmacopoeia - Cassava starch; GB 31637 Edible starch |
25 |
Lactose |
GB25595 Lactose |
GB25595 Lactose; The current Chinese Pharmacopoeia - Lactose |
26 |
Edible dextrose |
GB 15203 Starch sugar GB/T 20880 Edible dextrose |
GB 15203 Starch sugar; GB/T 20880 Edible dextrose; The current Chinese Pharmacopoeia – Glucose; The current Chinese Pharmacopoeia – Anhydrous glucose |
27 |
Edible wheat starch |
GB/T 8883 Edible wheat starch |
GB/T 8883 Edible wheat starch; The current Chinese Pharmacopoeia - Wheat starch; GB 31637 Edible starch |
28 |
Edible corn starch |
GB/T 8885 Edible corn starch |
GB/T 8885 Edible corn starch; The current Chinese Pharmacopoeia - Maize starch; GB 31637 Edible starch |
3. Update the version of Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China
In the 2017 Excipients Directory, the related standard for 20 excipients such as purified water is the 2015 Chinese Pharmacopoeia (Part Ⅳ), and in the 2019 Excipients Directory, it is the current Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The 20 excipients are as follows:
Purified water, Simple syrup, Low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose, Black ferric oxide, Red ferric oxide, Dextrin, Yellow ferric oxide, Crospovidone, Croscarmellose sodium, Povidone K30, Macrogol, Soluble starch, Hydroxypropyl cellulose, Triacetin, Anhydrous calcium hydrogen phosphate, Ethylcellulose, Pregelatinized starch, Sucrose, Brown ferric oxide, Vacant capsules |
4. Update the name of one excipient
The name “glyceryl triacetate” in the 2017 Excipients Directory was renamed “triacetin” in the 2019 Excipients Directory.
CIRS Comments
The implementation of the health food filing has simplified the procedures of administrative approval and reduced the reporting period and costs, so it is favoured by health food companies. However, the filing system may lead manufacturers to produce similar products due to the restrictive raw materials and excipients, and the competition will be getting tougher. The release of the 2019 Excipients Directory has brought new hopes to health food companies. Compared with the 2017 Excipients Directory, the 2019 Excipients Directory added 17 available excipients, including common food additives such as phospholipids, Octyl and decyl glycerate, and common food materials such as fruit and vegetable powders. These new excipients provide a more favourable guarantee for enriching the taste of the products and enhancing the market competitiveness of the products. Besides, the new standards of 28 excipients also provide more space for companies to choose suppliers.
Up to now, according to the query of CIRS in the filing system, new excipients have not been entered into the system. It is believed that the SAMR will complete the update of the filing system before 1 December, and companies need to wait patiently.
Reference:
SAMR Notice: http://gkml.samr.gov.cn/nsjg/tssps/201911/t20191106_308220.html